Protective Cases - Outdoors - Camping

[tiggr33]

I will be going wilderness tent camping this summer. In the past, I've only brought along a P&S. This trip I am thinking of bringing my XT with my 28-135mm, possible my flash, and maybe another lens (nifty fifty or 100mm macro). Anyway, my concerns is storage in camp. I want to keep everything dry. Even if it doesn't rain, the dew and temparature changes in the Adirondacks from night to day cause some moisture concerns. Everything in camp just feels wet/damp to me most of the time anyway.

Does anyone have any experience with camping and photography? We are on a boat access only site, so storage in the trunk/truck is not an option, as we'll be over 4 miles from the parking lot. I'm thinking a pelican case. Or even two gallon sized ziplock bags. Seal everything in the zip bags and store in my standard lowepro bag. Or am I simple worrying too much over nothing?

 

[jann1033]

i've always just kept everything in my camera bag. usually i keep it in the tent or trunk at night rather than the car interior( due to concerns about theft) but never had a problem with any type of condensation. what are you keeping your dry goods in( food stuff i mean) if they are in a box and that stays ok i would think your camera in it's bag should be fine if your bag is decent( ie a normal camera bag that has some zippers etc, usually they are at least a little weather resistant) if it rained a lot i might put them in ziplocs inside the case ( or the whole case in a garbage bag/giant ziploc bag) in case of flooding if you don't have anyplace else that you are sure would remain dry ( thinking of the tropical storm we went through a few yrs back where we ended up with our tent with a good inch or two of water on the floor, right up to the top of the place where the floor meet the nylon, you know to keep out water, well it also keeps it in thankfully my camera was in the trunk then since we knew it was coming)

 

[tiggr33]

Our dry goods are all transfered to ziplocks, "tupperware" containers, or glass jars. Or are purchased in cyrovacs. We tend not to bring anything in a box. And anything that is, is kept in a sealable tote ( too both keep dry and for ease of bear deterring) I have multiple lowepro bags with rain (AW) covers. We try to keep nothing on the tent floor. We have overturned milk crates as storage "compartments" and "tables". If I were car camping, I'd use the trunk to store the bag. So in theory nothing should be in contact with moisture. But with being on the lake (Indian Lake, NY) and weather, I want to pre-plan and not have to react in a panic. Hmm, in thinking my post and your reply out, I think my camoing "luggage" which is a large well sealing plastic storage container, may work.

 

[My2Girls66]

I've only camped with an slr once. I kept it in the tent, in its bag and off the floor. I didn't have a problem. I recently bought a dry bag to put it in while in the canoe. They roll at the opening to seal out water in case of an accidental trip into the water and if you leave some air in it it should float. The EMS I went to didn't have one to fit my whole camera bag in as I had hoped so I put the camera and lenses in their own cases and into the bag. Typically tho, I will just take a p&s while hiking, camping, boating.

 

[zackiedawg]

I don't think you need to worry too much...most camera bags have enough water repellancy to keep out minor problems, and a few extra ziplocs along for the chance of bad weather to double seal the camera and lenses should be as safe as you need to be.

I haven't camped yet with my DSLR, but I do live in unbelievably hot and humid climate with a nearly constant chance of rain, and spend a lot of time shooting out in the swamps and wetlands. I usually keep my camera in my camera bag, and bring 2 large ziplocs along that I can put the camera and a few lenses into if I know I'm going to be caught in a downpour - I'll put them in the ziplocs, then the bag, then stick the raincover on the bag.

I'd recommend picking up a few silicon absorption packets if you're worried about humidity/moisture changes. Throwing one in the ziploc can ensure that any moisture already on the camera doesn't end up caught in the bag and condensing. They can be picked up cheap in plenty of places, or even found in everything from shoe boxes to electronics boxes (I have never even bought these - I can usually find plenty of them in the various boxes of stuff I buy, and just collect them for camera duty).

 

[klmall]

Pelican cases are great for smaller cameras and rafting. I've done a lot of camping in rain and 5 day rafting trips and never had the nerve to bring an SLR. Moisture will condense in summer regardless of whether it rains or not so double layering bags is a good idea. I've carried my Canon G9 in bad weather protected in a camera bag in plastic bags and it has done very well that way. When I'm actually on the water I use one of my old Canon cameras or disposable cameras; cameras I could lose and live without on my trip.

Also, remember that mornings can be chilly even in summer and to let your camera and lens warm up a bit. I've camped in the 'Daks and they are gorgeous! Have a wonderful trip and share your pictures when you return!